The AEROSTAR FJ-100 was conceived as a modernization of the high-performance Aerostar airframe, transitioning the design from piston power to a jet-powered business aircraft. The project was an initiative by Aerostar Aircraft, the company that has held the Aerostar type certificate since 1991. The aircraft's lineage traces back to the original Aerostar designed by Ted R. Smith, which was later produced by the Ted Smith Aircraft Company and subsequently acquired by the Piper Aircraft Corporation in 1978, where it was known as the PA-60.
Designed to meet FAR Part 23 certification standards, the FJ-100 was intended to serve as a corporate transport capable of carrying a pilot and up to seven passengers. The interior was planned with a standard four-club-seat cabin layout. To support the increased fuel requirements of jet propulsion, the design incorporated integral wing tanks and a bladder-type fuselage tank situated between the baggage compartment and the rear cabin.
Technical specifications for the FJ-100 focused on two potential turbofan engine options. The aircraft was planned to be powered by either two Williams FJ33-1 turbofans, providing 5.35 kN (1,200 lbf) of thrust each, or two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F turbofans, which offered a higher thrust of 6.67 kN (1,500 lbf) per engine.
Despite these detailed plans, the FJ-100 never entered verified production. Development timelines shifted significantly; an initial first flight was projected for August 2001, but this date was later revised to the second half of 2004. Deliveries were tentatively scheduled for 2006. However, there is no documented evidence that these milestones were achieved or that any completed airframes were delivered to customers. Consequently, the FJ-100 remains a conceptual evolution of the Ted Smith Aerostar lineage rather than an operational aircraft, with no recorded service history in civil or military sectors.